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Berns K, Haertel AJ. Excess prenatal loss and respiratory illnesses of infant macaques living outdoors and exposed to wildfire smoke. Am J Primatol 2024; 86:e23605. [PMID: 38342984 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
Global climate change has transformed predictions of fire seasons in the near future, and record-breaking wildfire events have had catastrophic consequences in recent years. In September 2020, multiple wildfires subjected Oregon to hazardous air quality for several days. In this retrospective cohort study, we aimed to examine prenatal loss, morbidity, and mortality of rhesus (Macaca mulatta) and Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) exposed to poor air quality from the nearby wildfires. Detailed medical records from 2014 to 2020 of 580 macaques housed outdoors at a research facility in Beaverton, Oregon were used to evaluate the association between these health outcomes and wildfire smoke exposure. Logistic regression models estimated excess prenatal loss, hospitalization rates, respiratory problems, and mortality during and following the wildfire event, and Kruskal-Wallis statistics were used to determine if infant growth was affected by wildfire smoke exposure. Risk of pregnancy loss (relative risk = 4.1; p < 0.001) and odds of diagnosis with a respiratory problem (odds ratio = 4.47; p = 0.003) were higher in exposed infant macaques compared to nonexposed infants. Infant growth was not affected by poor air quality exposure. Our findings suggest wildfire smoke exposure poses a risk to the health of infants and pregnant individuals and should be monitored more closely in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Berns
- Division of Animal Resources and Research Support, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
| | - Andrew J Haertel
- Division of Animal Resources and Research Support, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
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Kornfield M, Rubin E, Parker P, Garg B, O'Leary T, Phillips S, Madding R, Baldwin M, Amato P, Lee D, Wu D, Krieg S. Unhealthy air quality secondary to wildfires is associated with lower blastocyst yield. Fertil Steril 2024; 121:842-852. [PMID: 38244020 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2023.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study the impact of unhealthy air quality from the 2020 Oregon wildfires on outcomes for patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. DESIGN A retrospective cohort study. SETTING A university-based fertility clinic. PATIENTS Subjects were undergoing IVF treatment from the 6 weeks preceding the wildfires through a 10-day exposure period. Cohorts were classified on the basis of whether subjects experienced patient and/or laboratory exposure to unhealthy air quality. Patient exposure was defined as at least 4 days of ovarian stimulation overlapping with the exposure, and laboratory exposure was defined as at least 2 days of IVF treatment and embryogenesis overlapping with the exposure. The unexposed cohort consisted of remaining subjects without defined exposure, with cycles in the 6 weeks preceding the wildfires. As some subjects had dual exposure and appeared in both patient and laboratory exposure cohorts, each cohort was separately compared with the unexposed control cohort. INTERVENTION A 10-day period of unhealthy air quality caused by smoke plumes from a wildfire event. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was the blastulation rate. Secondary outcomes included fertilization rate, number of blastocysts obtained, and cycles with no blastocysts frozen or transferred. RESULTS Sixty-nine subjects underwent ovarian stimulation and IVF treatment during the 6 weeks preceding the wildfires through the 10-day period of unhealthy air quality. Of these, 15 patients were in the laboratory exposure cohort, 16 were in the patient exposure cohort, and 44 were unexposed. Six subjects appeared in both laboratory and patient exposure cohorts. Although neither exposure cohort had significantly decreased blastulation rate compared with the unexposed, the median number of blastocysts obtained was significantly lower in the laboratory exposure cohort than the unexposed group (2 [range 0-14] vs. 4.5 [range 0-21], respectively). The laboratory exposure cohort had significantly more cycles with no blastocysts obtained (3/15 [20%] vs. 1/44 [2%]). There were no significant differences in IVF treatment outcomes between patient exposure and unexposed cohorts. These findings persisted after controlling for age. There were no significant differences in pregnancy outcomes observed after embryo transfer between the exposure group and the unexposed group. CONCLUSION For a cohort of patients undergoing IVF treatment, an acute episode of outside wildfire smoke exposure during fertilization and embryogenesis was associated with decreased blastocyst yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly Kornfield
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.
| | - Elizabeth Rubin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Pamela Parker
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Bharti Garg
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Thomas O'Leary
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Sara Phillips
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Rachel Madding
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Maureen Baldwin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Paula Amato
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - David Lee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Diana Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Sacha Krieg
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
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Haertel AJ, Beisner BA, Buehler MS, Capuano S, Carrol KE, Church T, Cohen JK, Crane MM, Dutton JW, Falkenstein KP, Gill L, Hopper LM, Hotchkiss CE, Lee GH, Malinowski CM, Mendoza E, Sayers K, Scorpio DG, Stockinger D, Taylor JM. The impact of housing on birth outcomes in breeding macaque groups across multiple research centers. Am J Primatol 2023; 85:e23554. [PMID: 37771291 PMCID: PMC10591726 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Demand for nonhuman primates in research has increased over the past several years, while nonhuman primate supply remains a challenge in the United States. Global nonhuman primate supply issues make it increasingly important to maximize domestic colony production. To explore how housing conditions across primate breeding colonies impact infant survival and animal production more broadly, we collected medical records from 7959 rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and 492 pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestrina) across seven breeding facilities and used generalized mixed-effect modeling to determine prenatal and infant survival odds by housing type and group size. Infant survival odds for each housing type and group size varied for prenatal, neonatal, early infant, and late infant age groups. Odds of prenatal survival were lowest in paired indoor housing and small and medium outdoor groups. No housing type performed better than large outdoor groups for neonatal survival. Odds of early infant survival was greatest in indoor and mixed indoor/outdoor housing compared to large outdoor enclosures. Large outdoor housing was associated with higher survival odds for late infant survival compared to small and medium outdoor housing. These results may influence housing choices at macaque breeding facilities hoping to maximize infant success, although there are relative care costs, the promotion of species-typical behaviors, and infrastructure factors to also consider. Our study used an interinstitutional collaboration that allowed for the analysis of more infant macaque medical records than ever before and used the broad variations across the seven national primate research centers to make the results applicable to many other facilities housing macaques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Haertel
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Division of Animal Resources and Research Support, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
| | - Brianne A Beisner
- Emory National Primate Research Center Field Station, Division of Animal Resources, Emory University, Lawrenceville, Georgia, USA
| | - Margaret S Buehler
- Anthropology Department, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, Louisiana, USA
| | - Saverio Capuano
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Kelsey E Carrol
- Primate Medicine Services, California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Travis Church
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Joyce K Cohen
- Emory National Primate Research Center Field Station, Division of Animal Resources, Emory University, Lawrenceville, Georgia, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Maria M Crane
- Emory National Primate Research Center Field Station, Division of Animal Resources, Emory University, Lawrenceville, Georgia, USA
| | - John W Dutton
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Katherine P Falkenstein
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, Louisiana, USA
| | - Leanne Gill
- Research Services, California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Lydia M Hopper
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Charlotte E Hotchkiss
- Washington National Primate Research Center, Animal Resources Division, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Grace H Lee
- Washington National Primate Research Center, Animal Resources Division, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Carolyn M Malinowski
- Arizona Breeding Colony, Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Mesa, Arizona, USA
| | - Elda Mendoza
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Ken Sayers
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Diana G Scorpio
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Diane Stockinger
- Primate Medicine Services, California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Joshua M Taylor
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Division of Animal Resources and Research Support, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
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Erb WM, Barrow EJ, Hofner AN, Lecorchick JL, Mitra Setia T, Vogel ER. Wildfire smoke linked to vocal changes in wild Bornean orangutans. iScience 2023; 26:107088. [PMID: 37456857 PMCID: PMC10339020 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Tropical peatlands are the sites of Earth's largest fire events, with outsized contributions to greenhouse gases, toxic smoke, and haze rich with particulate matter. The human health risks from wildfire smoke are well known, but its effects on wildlife inhabiting these ecosystems are poorly understood. In 2015, peatland fires on Borneo created a thick haze of smoke that blanketed the region. We studied its effects on the long call vocalizations of four adult male Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii) in a peat swamp forest. During the period of heavy smoke, orangutans called less often and showed reduced vocal quality-lower pitch, increased harshness and perturbations, and more nonlinear phenomena-similar to changes in human smokers. Most of these changes persisted for two months after the smoke had cleared and likely signal changes in health. Our work contributes valuable information to support non-invasive acoustic monitoring of this Critically Endangered primate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy M. Erb
- K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
- Department of Anthropology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Elizabeth J. Barrow
- Department of Social Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
- Gunung Palung Orangutan Conservation Program, West Kalimantan, Ketapang 78811, Indonesia
| | - Alexandra N. Hofner
- Department of Integrative Conservation, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
- Department of Anthropology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Jessica L. Lecorchick
- K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Tatang Mitra Setia
- Fakultas Biologi, Universitas Nasional, Jakarta 12520, Indonesia
- Primate Research Center, Universitas Nasional, Jakarta 12520, Indonesia
| | - Erin R. Vogel
- Department of Anthropology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
- Center for Human Evolutionary Studies, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
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Dhingra R, Keeler C, Staley BS, Jardel HV, Ward-Caviness C, Rebuli ME, Xi Y, Rappazzo K, Hernandez M, Chelminski AN, Jaspers I, Rappold AG. Wildfire smoke exposure and early childhood respiratory health: a study of prescription claims data. Environ Health 2023; 22:48. [PMID: 37370168 PMCID: PMC10294519 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-023-00998-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Wildfire smoke is associated with short-term respiratory outcomes including asthma exacerbation in children. As investigations into developmental wildfire smoke exposure on children's longer-term respiratory health are sparse, we investigated associations between developmental wildfire smoke exposure and first use of respiratory medications. Prescription claims from IBM MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters database were linked with wildfire smoke plume data from NASA satellites based on Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). A retrospective cohort of live infants (2010-2016) born into MSAs in six western states (U.S.A.), having prescription insurance, and whose birthdate was estimable from claims data was constructed (N = 184,703); of these, gestational age was estimated for 113,154 infants. The residential MSA, gestational age, and birthdate were used to estimate average weekly smoke exposure days (smoke-day) for each developmental period: three trimesters, and two sequential 12-week periods post-birth. Medications treating respiratory tract inflammation were classified using active ingredient and mode of administration into three categories:: 'upper respiratory', 'lower respiratory', 'systemic anti-inflammatory'. To evaluate associations between wildfire smoke exposure and medication usage, Cox models associating smoke-days with first observed prescription of each medication category were adjusted for infant sex, birth-season, and birthyear with a random intercept for MSA. Smoke exposure during postnatal periods was associated with earlier first use of upper respiratory medications (1-12 weeks: hazard ratio (HR) = 1.094 per 1-day increase in average weekly smoke-day, 95%CI: (1.005,1.191); 13-24 weeks: HR = 1.108, 95%CI: (1.016,1.209)). Protective associations were observed during gestational windows for both lower respiratory and systemic anti-inflammatory medications; it is possible that these associations may be a consequence of live-birth bias. These findings suggest wildfire smoke exposure during early postnatal developmental periods impact subsequent early life respiratory health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radhika Dhingra
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, 135 Dauer Drive, C.B 7431, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA.
| | - Corinna Keeler
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Brooke S Staley
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Hanna V Jardel
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Cavin Ward-Caviness
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Meghan E Rebuli
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma, and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Yuzhi Xi
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, 135 Dauer Drive, C.B 7431, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Kristen Rappazzo
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Michelle Hernandez
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Ann N Chelminski
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Ilona Jaspers
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma, and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Ana G Rappold
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, USA
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Lasley BL. Early exposure to wildfire smoke can lead to birth defects. Front Toxicol 2023; 5:1050555. [PMID: 36911227 PMCID: PMC9998912 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2023.1050555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The results of two previously published reports of the events and impacts of the Campfire wildfire smoke exposure that occurred in California in 2018 are amplified from the point of view of the potential toxic mechanism involved. The Campfire wildfire led to the exposure of a breeding colony of macaque monkeys (Macaca mulatta) during the peak of their breeding season in 2018-2019. Considering the timing, adverse effects, and endocrine implications reported, the cumulative evidence points to an early toxic sensitive period that can lead to birth defects in higher primates and human pregnancies. This deeper inspection of the published observations provides important caveats and useful guidance for future investigators. The unique higher primate placental-adrenal-brain axis may limit the use of many traditional toxicologic approaches. Retrospective neurological evaluations of human fetuses exposed to air pollutants during organogenesis and subsequent retrospective characterization of air samples using in vitro and animal models may be the best procedures to follow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bill L. Lasley
- Center for Health and the Environment, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
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Pocknee CA, Legge SM, McDonald J, Fisher DO. Modeling mammal response to fire based on species' traits. Conserv Biol 2023:e14062. [PMID: 36704894 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Fire has shaped ecological communities worldwide for millennia, but impacts of fire on individual species are often poorly understood. We performed a meta-analysis to predict which traits, habitat, or study variables and fire characteristics affect how mammal species respond to fire. We modeled effect sizes of measures of population abundance or occupancy as a function of various combinations of these traits and variables with phylogenetic least squares regression. Nine of 115 modeled species (7.83%) returned statistically significant effect sizes, suggesting most mammals are resilient to fire. The top-ranked model predicted a negative impact of fire on species with lower reproductive rates, regardless of fire type (estimate = -0.68), a positive impact of burrowing in prescribed fires (estimate = 1.46) but not wildfires, and a positive impact of average fire return interval for wildfires (estimate = 0.93) but not prescribed fires. If a species' International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List assessment includes fire as a known or possible threat, the species was predicted to respond negatively to wildfire relative to prescribed fire (estimate = -2.84). These findings provide evidence of experts' abilities to predict whether fire is a threat to a mammal species and the ability of managers to meet the needs of fire-threatened species through prescribed fire. Where empirical data are lacking, our methods provide a basis for predicting mammal responses to fire and thus can guide conservation actions or interventions in species or communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher A Pocknee
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sarah M Legge
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- Fenner School of Environment & Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Jane McDonald
- Institute for Future Environments, Centre for the Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Diana O Fisher
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
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Basilio E, Ozarslan N, Buarpung S, Benmarhnia T, Padula AM, Robinson JF, Gaw SL. Gestational age-dependent decrease in fetal Hofbauer cells in placentas from pregnancies exposed to wildfire smoke in California. medRxiv 2023:2023.01.11.23284125. [PMID: 36712106 PMCID: PMC9882560 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.11.23284125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Wildfires are more common over the last decade and the frequency of wildfire events has been accelerated by climate change. The existing body of literature suggests that exposure to wildfire smoke during pregnancy contributes to adverse perinatal outcomes such as preterm birth and fetal growth restriction. We hypothesize that exposures to wildfire smoke and its constituents triggers a fetal inflammatory response which contributes to pathological changes that underlie these adverse pregnancy outcomes. In this study, we quantified the presence of fetal macrophages (i.e., Hofbauer cells) in human placentas obtained between 2018 and 2020 to assess the relationship between fetal immune status and wildfire exposure. STUDY DESIGN We collected placentas from pregnancies from two hospitals in San Francisco over a two-year period that included two severe major wildfires. The average particulate matter < 2.5 μm (PM2.5) or wildfire specific PM2.5 levels were estimated over the gestational duration of each sample. Immunostaining against CK7 and CD68 was performed to identify intravillous fetal Hofbauer cells. We assessed the gestational-age dependent relationship between placental CD68+ cell density and mean daily PM2.5 or wildfire-specific PM2.5 via linear regression and Welch's t-test. Additionally, we compared placental CD68+ cell density with estimated peak wildfire exposures during the gestation to determine if timing of exposure during pregnancy may influence the occurrence of Hofbauer cells in the placenta. RESULTS The gestational ages ranged from 7-41 weeks (n = 67). The majority of samples were collected during one of two major wildfire events in Northern California (70%; n = 47). In general, we observed a significant inverse relationship between placental CD68 density and PM2.5 or wildfire specific PM2.5, however, these associations were only observed in first or second trimester samples, and not in term samples. For example, among first trimester samples (n=22), we observed lower mean CD68 density among samples likely to be exposed to wildfire events (mean = 1.42, SD = 0.8) as compared to those not exposed (mean = 3.73, SD = 1.983) (p = 0.0015). Based on our linear regression model results, we predicted that a one μg/m3 increase in daily mean wildfire PM2.5 was associated with a 0.457 decrease in CD68 density (ß =-0.457; 95% CI: -0.722, -0.193). This association was also significant for daily mean overall PM2.5, though smaller in magnitude (ß = -0.139; 95% CI: -0.218, -0.059). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that wildfire smoke exposures are associated with decreased presence of fetal Hofbauer cells in first and second trimester placentas, suggesting exposure may lead to impaired placental function via altered presence of fetal Hofbauer cells and changes in immune status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Basilio
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Nida Ozarslan
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Sirirak Buarpung
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Tarik Benmarhnia
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego
| | - Amy M. Padula
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Joshua F. Robinson
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Stephanie L. Gaw
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco
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Vokina VA, Sosedova LM, Novikov MA, Titov EA, Andreeva ES, Rukavishnikov VS. Effects of Daily Peat Smoke Exposure on Present and Next Generations. Toxics 2022; 10:750. [PMID: 36548583 PMCID: PMC9786320 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10120750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to follow the neurotoxic effect of peat smoke on adult outbred rats and its influence on central nervous system (CNS) parameters in first-generation offspring. Under experimental conditions, exposure to peat smoke was carried out on adult male Wistar rats for 24 h. After the end of the exposure, an open field test (OFT), electroencephalography (EEG), and histological analysis of the testes and brains of smoke-exposed males were performed, after which they were mated with intact females to obtain F1 offspring. Stillbirth, neonatal mortality, and body weight at 4, 7, 14, and 21 postnatal days, as well as behavior in the OFT and EEG parameters during puberty (3 months), were assessed. The results of the examination of F0 males showed a significant increase in motor activity and anxiety in the open field test and a violation of EEG parameters. Histopathologically, peat smoke caused a sharp increase in shadow cells (homogeneous cells with pale-stained cytoplasm, in which the cell and nuclear membranes are not visualized) and degeneratively altered neurons in the brain; we found no changes in the testicles. Peat smoke exposure during preconception did not affect neonatal mortality and weight gain in F1 offspring. Adult females born to peat-smoke-exposed males showed an increase in locomotor activity, and the behavior of adult F1 males did not differ from the control. In F1 males, a statistically significant increase in slow-wave activity indices in the delta band was observed.
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Kinney PL, Pinkerton KE. Heatwaves and Air Pollution: a Deadly Combination. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2022; 206:1060-1062. [PMID: 35877995 PMCID: PMC9704824 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202207-1372ed] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick L. Kinney
- Department of Environmental HealthBoston University School of Public HealthBoston, Massachusetts
| | - Kent E. Pinkerton
- School of MedicineSchool of Veterinary Medicine,Center for Health and the EnvironmentUniversity of California, DavisDavis, California
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Basilio E, Chen R, Fernandez AC, Padula AM, Robinson JF, Gaw SL. Wildfire Smoke Exposure during Pregnancy: A Review of Potential Mechanisms of Placental Toxicity, Impact on Obstetric Outcomes, and Strategies to Reduce Exposure. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:13727. [PMID: 36360613 PMCID: PMC9657128 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192113727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is accelerating the intensity and frequency of wildfires globally. Understanding how wildfire smoke (WS) may lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes and alterations in placental function via biological mechanisms is critical to mitigate the harms of exposure. We aim to review the literature surrounding WS, placental biology, biological mechanisms underlying adverse pregnancy outcomes as well as interventions and strategies to avoid WS exposure in pregnancy. This review includes epidemiologic and experimental laboratory-based studies of WS, air pollution, particulate matter (PM), and other chemicals related to combustion in relation to obstetric outcomes and placental biology. We summarized the available clinical, animal, and placental studies with WS and other combustion products such as tobacco, diesel, and wood smoke. Additionally, we reviewed current recommendations for prevention of WS exposure. We found that there is limited data specific to WS; however, studies on air pollution and other combustion sources suggest a link to inflammation, oxidative stress, endocrine disruption, DNA damage, telomere shortening, epigenetic changes, as well as metabolic, vascular, and endothelial dysregulation in the maternal-fetal unit. These alterations in placental biology contribute to adverse obstetric outcomes that disproportionally affect the most vulnerable. Limiting time outdoors, wearing N95 respirator face masks and using high quality indoor air filters during wildfire events reduces exposure to related environmental exposures and may mitigate morbidities attributable to WS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Basilio
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Rebecca Chen
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | | | - Amy M. Padula
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Joshua F. Robinson
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Stephanie L. Gaw
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
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Abstract
Climate change is a major risk factor for overall health, including reproductive health, and well-being. Increasing temperatures, due mostly to increased greenhouse gases trapping excess heat in the atmosphere, result in erratic weather patterns, wildfires, displacement of large communities, and stagnant water resulting in vector-borne diseases that, together, have set the stage for new and devastating health threats across the globe. These conditions disproportionately affect disadvantaged and vulnerable populations, including women, pregnant persons, young children, the elderly, and the disabled. This review reports on the evidence for the adverse impacts of air pollution, wildfires, heat stress, floods, toxic chemicals, and vector-borne diseases on male and female fertility, the developing fetus, and obstetric outcomes. Reproductive health care providers are uniquely positioned and have an unprecedented opportunity to educate patients and policy makers about mitigating the impact of climate change to assure reproductive health in this and future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thalia R Segal
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Linda C Giudice
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
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13
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Capitanio JP, Del Rosso LA, Gee N, Lasley BL. Adverse biobehavioral effects in infants resulting from pregnant rhesus macaques' exposure to wildfire smoke. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1774. [PMID: 35365649 PMCID: PMC8975955 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29436-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
As wildfires across the world increase in number, size, and intensity, exposure to wildfire smoke (WFS) is a growing health problem. To date, however, little is known for any species on what might be the behavioral or physiological consequences of prenatal exposure to WFS. Here we show that infant rhesus monkeys exposed to WFS in the first third of gestation (n = 52) from the Camp Fire (California, November, 2018) show greater inflammation, blunted cortisol, more passive behavior, and memory impairment compared to animals conceived after smoke had dissipated (n = 37). Parallel analyses, performed on a historical control cohort (n = 2490), did not support the alternative hypothesis that conception timing alone could explain the results. We conclude that WFS may have a teratogenic effect on the developing fetus and speculate on mechanisms by which WFS might affect neural development. Little is known about the consequences of prenatal exposure to wildfire smoke on biobehavioural outcomes. Here, the authors show that infant rhesus monkeys exposed early in gestation to wildfire smoke from the 2018 Camp Fire in California show more inflammation, blunted cortisol and altered behaviour outcomes compared to non-exposed animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P Capitanio
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA, USA. .,Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
| | - Laura A Del Rosso
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Nancy Gee
- Center for Health and the Environment, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Bill L Lasley
- Center for Health and the Environment, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
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Hennig SL, Owen JR, Lin JC, McNabb BR, Van Eenennaam AL, Murray JD. A deletion at the polled P C locus alone is not sufficient to cause a polled phenotype in cattle. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2067. [PMID: 35136148 PMCID: PMC8825853 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06118-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Dehorning is a common practice in the dairy industry, but raises animal welfare concerns. A naturally occurring genetic mutation (PC allele) comprised of a 212 bp duplicated DNA sequence replacing a 10-bp sequence at the polled locus is associated with the hornless phenotype (polled) in cattle. To test the hypothesis that the 10 bp deletion alone is sufficient to result in polled, a CRISPR-Cas9 dual guide RNA approach was optimized to delete a 133 bp region including the 10 bp sequence. Timing of ribonucleoprotein complex injections at various hours post insemination (hpi) (6, 8, and 18 hpi) as well as in vitro transcribed (IVT) vs synthetic gRNAs were compared. Embryos injected 6 hpi had a significantly higher deletion rate (53%) compared to those injected 8 (12%) and 18 hpi (7%), and synthetic gRNAs had a significantly higher deletion rate (84%) compared to IVT gRNAs (53%). Embryo transfers were performed, and bovine fetuses were harvested between 3 and 5 months of gestation. All fetuses had mutations at the target site, with two of the seven having biallelic deletions, and yet they displayed horn bud development indicating that the 10 bp deletion alone is not sufficient to result in the polled phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadie L Hennig
- Department of Animal Science, University of CA - Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Joseph R Owen
- Department of Animal Science, University of CA - Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Jason C Lin
- Department of Animal Science, University of CA - Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Bret R McNabb
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of CA - Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | | | - James D Murray
- Department of Animal Science, University of CA - Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of CA - Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
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Ahmed F, Akbal E. Comment on "Effects of the 2018 camp fire on birth outcomes in non-human primates: Case-control study". Reprod Toxicol 2022; 108:62-63. [PMID: 35032614 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2022.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fahad Ahmed
- Department Of Public Health, Faculty Of Medicine Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Turkey; Research for Health in Conflict (R4HC-MENA) Programme, Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Emine Akbal
- Department Of Public Health, Faculty Of Medicine Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Turkey
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O’Hara KC, Ranches J, Roche LM, Schohr TK, Busch RC, Maier GU. Impacts from Wildfires on Livestock Health and Production: Producer Perspectives. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11113230. [PMID: 34827962 PMCID: PMC8614491 DOI: 10.3390/ani11113230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Wildfires are increasing in frequency and severity across the Western United States. Efforts to understand the health impacts on humans are widespread and expanding; however, very little is known about the impact of wildfires and smoke exposure on livestock. This work presents the results of a survey of cattle, sheep, and goat producers in California, Oregon, and Nevada, on their experiences during the 2020 wildfire season. While few direct impacts of fires were reported among the 70 responses, 26% of respondents reported they had to evacuate livestock and 19% reported pasture losses. Indirect losses from smoke exposure, including pneumonia and reproductive losses were reported more broadly. This preliminary work highlights the need to better understand impacts of wildfires on livestock and how policy changes can help support the livestock production industry through these crises. Abstract Wildfires are increasing in frequency and severity across the Western United States. However, there is limited information available on the impacts these fires are having on the livelihood of livestock producers and their animals. This work presents the results of a survey evaluating the direct and indirect impacts of the 2020 wildfire season on beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, and goat, producers in California, Oregon, and Nevada. Seventy completed surveys were collected between May and July 2021. While dairy producers reported no direct impacts from the fires, beef, sheep, and goat producers were impacted by evacuations and pasture lost to fires. Only beef producers reported losses due to burns and burn-associated deaths or euthanasia. Dairy, beef, sheep, and goat producers observed reduced conception, poor weight gain, and drops in milk production. All but dairy producers also observed pneumonia. Lower birthweights, increased abortion rates, and unexplained deaths were reported in beef cattle, sheep, and goats. This work documents the wide-ranging impacts of wildfires on livestock producers and highlights the need for additional work defining the health impacts of fire and smoke exposure in livestock, as well as the policy changes needed to support producers experiencing direct and indirect losses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen C. O’Hara
- Center for Animal Disease Modeling and Surveillance (CADMS), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA;
| | - Juliana Ranches
- Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center (EOARC), Oregon State University, Burns, OR 97720, USA;
| | - Leslie M. Roche
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA;
| | - Tracy Kay Schohr
- University of California Cooperative Extension, Plumas-Sierra-Butte Counties, Quincy, CA 96130, USA;
| | - Roselle C. Busch
- Department of Population Health & Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA;
| | - Gabriele U. Maier
- Department of Population Health & Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA;
- Correspondence:
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